Chapter 1 & 2 Economics Uncle Sam wants you to do better in economics. Chapter Objectives 1. What are the 4 factors of production? [land, labor, capital, & entrepreneurial ability] 2. What are the 3 basic questions that determine economic systems? [What, How, and For Whom] 3. Compare and contrast the 4 types of economic systems. A. Market [“individuals rule”] B. Command [“government rules”] C. Traditional [“customs rule”] D. Mixed 1.) Capitalism 2.) Communism 3.) Democratic Socialism 4. Explain the 6 features of the free enterprise system 5. Know the eight goals of our economy. 6. Explain the Circular Flow & Production Possibilities Curve Models. . WSJ 2005 “Econ, Econ, I want to major in Econ.” Universities awarded 16,141 economics degrees last year at 272 colleges & universities which is up 40% in five years. There has been a clear explosion of Economics economics as a major, particularly at the top colleges. At New York University, the economics major has doubled in 10 years. At 800, it is now the most popular major. Economics is also the number one major at Harvard (964 students), Columbia (up 67% in 5 years), Stanford, Penn, Princeton, Chicago (24% of graduating class), & 2nd at Brown, Yale, and University of California at Berkeley. The increase in the numbers is the result of many students seeing economics as the best vehicle promising good pay and security. Students realize that understanding economics has become a fundamental necessity of life. Economics rising popularity is even global. Econ majors in Poland have doubled in 6 years. In Russia, econ majors have jumped from 18% of students to 31%. Also, the chairman of the economics department at London School of Economics says economics popularity is at an all time high. ECONOMICS Scarcity Choices What is given up In other words “THIS is not the case”. Choices “No horn of plenty” Unlimited Needs Limited Resources and Wants Supply Demand Physicists explore the physical world. Economics as a social science looks at the behavior of people in the marketplace. Economics is not an “exact science” but it gives “likely results”. The economist’s lab is the real world. They don’t conduct controlled laboratory experiments. They are predicting human behavior. Economics is the academic discipline most discussed by the general public. It is also one of the least understood. [“Language of graphs”] SOCIETY HAS VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED WANTS... Luxuries V. NECESSITIES . Food Clothing Shelter Food, clothing, shelter, Chrysler 300, mansion, Nintendo DS, jewelry, iPod, projector, digital camera, good health, children, camcorder, laptop warmth, indoor plumbing, rollerblades, a sense of personal worth, Plasma TV, literacy, high economics grade, cell phone, compact discs, Wii Unlimited Human Wants “Need” those first three to survive. Land, Labor, Capital, Entrepreneur Rent, Wages, Interest, Profits Limited Resources What, how, & for whom. Basic Economic Choices What to produce How to produce Who receives Answers Determine The Type of Economic System Market Traditional Command 1 Economics – the study of the choices people make in an effort to satisfy their unlimited needs & wants from limited (scarce) resources. Good is a physical object (tangible) that can be purchased. [These can be seen and felt – car, book Econ ] 2 Product Service is useful labor done for a fee (intangible). [These are activities, not items – lawyer or doctor services] . Are the following a good or a service? Watch? Watch Repair? Hamburger? Education? Basketball? Clothing? Bicycle? Hair cut? Garbage pickup? Jumpdrive? Supplier Consumer 3 Producers (suppliers) – people who make goods/svcs. 4 Consumers – people who buy and use goods/services. 5 Needs – goods/services necessary for survival. [food, clothing, and shelter ] 6 Wants – Goods/services consumed not necessary for survival. [car, soccer ball ] Scarcity – when resources do not satisfy wants and needs. [Wants are greater than resources.] [Scarcity makes decisions necessary & opportunity costs unavoidable.] Resources – anything used to satisfy wants or needs. [inputs] 7 Factors of production – building blocks (resources/inputs) used 8 to produce products. They are inputs used when something is going to be made. There are thousands of inputs or factors of production, all of which can be grouped under land, labor, or capital. The Four Factors of Production Resources beget production, which beget income, which beget wealth. 1. 9 Land [natural resources] – Nature’s items [“gifts of nature”] A. In the earth - coal, oil, fossil fuels, etc. B. On the earth – vegetation and water C. In the atmosphere – sun, wind, and rain [Land is the starting point of all production.” “Stuff” from which everything is made. . Water Wind Sun Fossil fuels “Gifts of Nature” 2. 10 Labor [human resources] {“effort”} anyone who works [“paid work”] [Labor is the “brain-power” and “muscle-power” of human beings] A. Physical – pro athletes & lumberjacks B. Intellectual – ministers, doctors & lawyers *Most important resource – 70% of input cost . “Hired Help” Real Capital v. Financial Capital REAL CAPITAL [tools, machinery, & factories] Can produce something directly with these . FINANCIAL CAPITAL [stocks, bonds, and money] Can’t produce anything directly with these . 3. 11 Capital Resources – all “man-made inputs” used in the production process (tools, machinery, and physical plants). A. Capital goods – goods [machinery, buildings, & tools] used to produce other goods. [crane, Ford plant, hammer] [products meant for “future consumption”] B. Consumer goods – products meant for “immediate consumption”. 12 A product can be both a consumer good and a capital good –depends on use. 13 Ex: Jet aircraft used by a movie star [like Jim Carey] to visit friends (consumer good). The same aircraft used by a business manager to serve customers [capital good]. Ex: F150 pick-up to deliver produce [capital good] or take family to church [consumer good] “man-made inputs” Rent Land Wages Labor Interest Capital Profits Entrepreneur . 4. 14 Entrepreneurship – starting a new business or introducing a 15 new product. “Sparkplugs” who introduce the product or start the new business. He combines land, labor, and capital to produce products. Resource payments. The resource owners receive rent [for the use of their land; wages [for their labor]; interest [payment for financial capital], and profits [for their entrepreneurial ability]. Opportunity Cost Opportunity Benefit Opportunity Set [“what is possible for $10,000”] Scarcity Choices Opportunity Costs Do the Benefits outweigh the cost? Scales of Economics . Expected marginal benefits Expected marginal costs Choices are primarily marginal – not all or nothing. 20. The Three Basic Questions... What, how, & for whom 1. What will be produced? The Three Basic Questions... 1. What will be produced? 2. How will the goods be produced? The Three Basic Questions... 1. What will be produced? 2. How will the goods be produced? 3. Who will get the goods & services? The Case for the Market System Efficiency, Incentives, and Freedom Adam Smith said the “invisible hand” determines what gets produced, how, & for whom. It is the invisible hand that moves us along the PPC. The invisible hand is now called the market mechanism. Its essential feature is the price signal. Unlimited Wants WHAT G/S to produce? Choices Limited Resources HOW will the WHO will receive G/S be produced? the G/S produced? Most needy or most money 3 BASIC ECONOMIC QUESTIONS Answers to the above determine: ECONOMIC SYSTEMS [Eskimo/pygmy] TRADITIONAL COMMAND FREE MARKET 1. Traditional 2. Pure Command 3. Pure Market 4. Mixed a. Capitalism[28. closest to pure market but has some pure command] b. Democratic Socialism[29. G owns some of resources. c. Authoritarian Socialism [Communism] The way the 3 basic questions are answered determines an economic system. I. Traditional-[where “CUSTOM RULES”]21. looks to past A. What, how, and for whom are answered by tradition B. Change is resisted, no technology [clashes with tradition] C. Heredity and caste system limit the economic role of individuals. D. 35,000 Pygmies in the Ituri Forest are an example. E. Men hunt & women/children gather/prepare food. F. Wear loincloths from bark of fig trees [“PYGLER” or “PYBUGLE Boy”] G. Eat mushrooms, berries, roasted grasshoppers, monkeys, & plantain H. Eat bone marrow & everything else in an elephant. I. Used to be “PYGACHE”, big Pygmies, have to wear “LARDACHE.” II. PURE COMMAND - where the “GOVERNMENT RULES”. 22. The government controls all resources. What, How, and For Whom answered by the government. III. PURE MARKET – where “INDIVIDUALS RULE.” 23. Individuals and firms control all resources. The government has no say. WHAT, HOW and FOR WHOM are decided by individuals. 24 Adam Smith 1723-1790 30. Authoritarian Socialism (communism)-closest to pure command. The G owns most of the factors of production. Communism was born in Russia. Father was Karl Marx. Marx called owners Karl Marx bourgeoisie & he called workers proletariat. 4. MIXED – all countries have mixed economic systems 27. Mixed combines elements of market & command. How are these words used in everyday life? 1. Traditional 2. Command 3. Market WEALTH OF NATIONS – 1776 [explained the free market concept] 25 The “INVISIBLE HAND” – when individual consumers/ producers compete to achieve their own private self-interest. The “role of government” 26 [“LAISSEZ-FAIRE”–“HANDS OFF”] is limited to national defense, public education, maintaining the infrastructure, and enforcing contracts. Smith said the market system was best because it encouraged specialization, resulting in increased output & more economic growth. No “G” Government was like an “INVISIBLE FOOT” – government action to benefit particular groups. Keynes will say the G can act as a pressure In loving memory gauge, letting off excess steam or building it up as needed. [active-not all inclusive role] My name is mercantilism. So mercantilism died as economic theory. of mercantilism Smith’s book was an attack on mercantilism. Mercantilism Wealth doesn’t come from an accumulation of gold and silver but from more productive people. A nation is wealthier if its citizens Are more productive. It is the ability of people to produce products and trade in free markets that creates a nation’s wealth. One man could do maybe 1 pin per day [1 man = 1 pin] Now if there is specialization 1 man draws the wire out 1 man straightens the wire 1 man cuts the wire 1 man sharpens the point 1 man flattens the head There are 18 distinct operations - some perform 2 or 3 operations 10 people do 48,000 pins per day 1 man = 4,800 pins per day Three circumstances come from this specialization. 1. Increased dexterity (learning by doing) 2. Saving time (lose time when you move to different operations) 3. Invention of machines (fosters inventiveness) 1. Economic Growth [Increase in GDP or per capita GDP] 3% annual growth will increase our standard of living. 1929-Per capita=$792; 1933-Per capita=$430; 2007-per capita= $45,600 2. Full Employment – about 95-96% employment is full employment. In 1982, unemployment was 10.8% [12 M unempl.] 3. Economic Efficiency – “obtaining the maximum output from available resources” or “maximum benefits at minimum cost from our limited resources.” “Doing the best with what we have.” 4. Price Level Stability – sizable inflation or deflation should be avoided. We had over 10% in 73, 79, & 80. Inflation was 2% in the 1950s, 2.3% in 1960s and 7.4% in 80s. . A person making $25,000 a year at age 30 would need (with average inflation of 5%) $125,000 a year at age 65 to have the same standard of living. 1972 --------82; 1982-------2008 In 1982, it took $2 to buy what $1 bought in 1972. In 2007, it took $2.14 to buy what $1 bought in 1982. In 1945, $1.50 bought what $1.00 did in 1860. Today, it takes $11 to buy what $1 bought in 1945. . 5. An Equitable Distribution of Income. One group shouldn’t have extreme luxury while another is in stark poverty. The richest 1%(3 mil.) have as much total income after taxes [average $400,000 a year as the bottom 40% [100 million people]. The richest 1% have greater wealth than the bottom 90% of the population. 6. Economic Freedom – guarantee that businesses , workers, and consumers have a high degree of economic freedom. 7. Economic Security – provision should be made for those not able to take care of themselves – handicapped, disabled, old age, chronically ill, orphans. Protection from lay-offs [unemployment insurance]. Also no discrimination. 43 million Americans have some type of disability. A. Hearing impaired: 22 million (including 2 million deaf) . B. Totally blind: 120,000 (Legally blind: 60,000) C. Epileptic: 2 million D. Paralyzed: 1.2 million E. Developmentally disabled; 9.2 million F. Speech impaired: 2.1 million G. Mentally retarded: up to 2.5 million H. HIV infected: 900,000 8. Balance of Trade. Over $400 billion a year the last few years. Some of these goals are complementary [economic growth & F.E.] and some conflict [F.E. and price level stability]. PRIVATE PROPERTY ROLE OF SELF-INTEREST FREEDOM OF ENTERPRISE & CHOICE COMPETITION PRIVATE PROPERTY ROLE OF SELF-INTEREST MARKETS & PRICES FREEDOM OF ENTERPRISE & CHOICE COMPETITION ACTIVE, BUT LIMITED, GOVERNMENT 1. Private Property – the right of individuals to exercise control over things owned. Freedom to negotiate binding legal contracts. 34 Contracts are legally binding in oral or written form. [A verbal agreement is binding only if it involves a small sum of money over a short period of time and does not involve real estate purchases.] 2. Freedom of Enterprise 33 (business) & Choice Can move within the economy to any job, to buy or sell property, or start a business. The consumer is “sovereign” (king) in the economy. His dollars vote as it is he who decides what gets produced. The U.S. has over 100,000 business failures each year. 3. Role of Self-Interest–each producer or consumer tries to do what is best for themselves. Self interest is the main force driving the economy. Producers aim for maximum profits. Consumers seek the lowest prices & highest quality. K-Mart? 4. Competition – economic rivalry of a large number of buyers & sellers. [central mechanism of market economy] Monopolies become fat & unresponsive to consumers (higher prices & fewer choices). Competition prevents one seller from controlling the market. Monopolies are “price makers”. It is better to have “price takers” who are at the “mercy of the market.” A monopoly’s attitude is: “We don’t care. And – an appendage to be named later, like a - We don’t have to. We’re a monopoly!” Monopolies can charge “Competition” and “self-interest” are like an “invisible hand”. an arm and a leg. So, the “invisible hand” refers to the way a market economy manages to harness the power of self-interest for the good of society. 5. Markets & prices. Markets bring the buyers and sellers into contact. We have “Market Inventors” like AL GORE!!! Prices send signals. High prices send signals to increase production and for other producers to enter the market. Low prices send signals to decrease production and for producers to exit the market. 6. Limited Government Intervention in the economy. The role of government was one of “laissez faire.” [“hands off”] In the words of Adam Smith, the government should not interfere with the operation of the economy except serve as an arbitrator in settling disputes. The government’s role: (according to Smith) a. provide defense, b. administer justice, and Arbitrator c. maintain certain public institutions. The government controls about 1/3 of all economic activity. [settling disputes] Developed and Developing Nations 36 Developed Nations – they have access to advanced technology, natural resources & a way of life based on large industries. 1.6 of the world’s 6.6 billion live in developed nations. These 23 nations include the U.S, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Denmark, Hong Kong, Sweden, Singapore, Germany and Britain. 37 Developing Nations (Third World Countries) – poorer, less industrially nations of the world. They are just beginning to develop industrially and are extremely poor. They have very high rates if illiteracy, higher unemployment rates, extensive underemployment, and rapid population growth. Over half still work in agriculture. About 5 billion of the world’s 6.6 billion live in developing nations. There are more than 150 developing nations, most located in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. 21% of the worlds 6 billion people live on less than $1 a day. Capital Good [Robots] Capital Good 10 7 3 A B C Consumer Good [iPhones] 4 5 6 Consumer Good [iPods] Demonstration of economic growth Graphical representation of the opportunity cost of using scarce resources to produce one good [or service] instead of another good [or service]. Budget Line Number of hamburgers & pizzas that can be bought for $30. Constant Opportunity Cost 1 Bus=4 Cars; ¼ Bus=1 Car 6 Movies 5 4 3 Opportunity Constant Opportunity Cost 1 T-shirt = 2 movies; ½ T-shirt = 1 movie Cost 2 Opportunity 1 Benefit 0 1 T-shirts 2 3 The STRAIGHT LINE shows the two products Are “equally substitutable”, that is, they are not specialized in particular uses, so the opportunity costs will remain constant. Constant Opportunity Cost 1 Corn = 1 Tomato Economic resources are not completely adaptable to alternative uses. The “curve” indicates a “changing trade-off.” Obtaining more of one good requires giving up larger amounts of the alternative good. Possibilities-A, B, C, D, & E Impossibility [more/better resources, better technology] These alternatives are unrealistic extremes as an economy typically produces both capital and consumer goods. Industrial Robots Production Possibilities Curve Economic Growth A’ 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1. More/better resources 2. Better technology B’ A C’ B Unattainable C D’ D Now Attainable Attainable E’ E 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pizzas 8 9 Capital Goods [Robots] - ability to produce a larger total output over time. d a e b f C 0 Consumer Goods [Pizza] The straight line shows the two products are “equally substitutable”, that is they are not specialized in particular uses, so the opportunity costs will remain the same. Increasing Cost Constant Cost Decreasing Cost A convex curve (bowed-in) shows the Law of Decreasing Cost – for each additional bread – decreasing amounts of robots are given up. 38 Full Employment Fixed Technology A B Fixed Resources Two Products F Unattainable [More/better Resources, Technology] Robots C *Shows opportunity cost more than anything E Inefficient [Under or unemployment] Boom Boxes D This PPC Line means we are operating at full capacity with best available resources/ technology & producing at its full potential. 1. Resources are fixed. There is no way to increase the availability of land, labor, capital or entrepreneurship. However, reallocation of these resources is possible. 2. All resources are fully employed. No unused land, labor, capital, or entrepreneurship exists. The economy is running at full production and producing goods and services at the least cost (productive efficiency]. 3. Technology is fixed. No new technological breakthroughs. PPC represents one specific time period. 4. Only two things can be produced[2-good model] “There is no free pizza.” [We are freezing the economy in time to focus on the economy’s productive alternatives based on research and technology of today.] 1. Scarcity 2. Choices - is represented by the frontier line. represented by pts A, B. or C. 3. Opportunity Cost is illustrated in terms of moving from one point to another when resources are utilized to their full potential. [must make choices] . 4. Efficiency - producing maximum output with available resources and technology. We can’t increase production of one good without decreasing that of another. 5. Economic growth occurs for one of two reasons. A. More resources [land, labor, or capital] become available. B. Technology improves. [more outputs from same inputs] Capital Goods A E More or better resources or better technology B D C Consumption Goods 41. At what letter is there unemployment [recession]? D 42. What letters represent resources being used in their most productive manner? [full employment, full production, and best available technology] A, B, or C 43. What letter represents an improvement in technology, therefore a new PPC frontier line? E 44. The (straight line/curve) illustrates the “line of increasing cost”? 45. The (straight line/curve) illustrates the “law of constant cost.” 46. At what letter would there be the most economic growth in the future if a country were producing there now? A What is the opportunity cost when moving from “C” to “A”; Consumption B to C; Capital & do we have to give anything up when moving from D to B? no The Circular Flow is an abstract, oversimplified model, showing how economic transactions [resources, products (g/s), and money] take place. 1 2 Products [goods/services] 1 a. Goods and services 2 b. Consumer expenditures Businesses 3 4 4 c. Land, labor, cap., entrepreneur 3 d. Rent, wages, interest, & profits Resources [Land, labor, cap., ent.] Householders D D S Resource Market Product Market 1 2 S Resources [Land, labor, cap., ent.] 3 a. Goods and services 4 b. Consumer expenditures Businesses 3 4 2 c. Land, labor, cap., entrepreneur 1 d. Rent, wages, interest, & profits Products [goods/services] Householders 1 RESOURCE MARKET 2 Mechanic 4 A. Products [Goods/services] HOUSEHOLDS 3 B. Consumer expenditures C. Land, Labor, Capital, Entrepreneur D. Rent, Wages, Interest Profits BUSINESSES 3 4 PRODUCT MARKET RESOURCE MARKET 1 2 Mechanic BUSINESSES 4 3 1 2 A. Products [Goods/services] HOUSEHOLDS B. Consumer expenditures C. Land, Labor, Capital, Entrepreneur D. Rent, Wages, Interest Profits 3 4 PRODUCT MARKET $ COSTS $ INCOMES RESOURCE MARKET RESOURCES INPUTS BUSINESSES HOUSEHOLDS GOODS & SERVICES GOODS & SERVICES PRODUCT MARKET GDP $ REVENUE $ CONSUMPTION Product Market 1 2 What flow are the following? A. Consumer expenditures? Businesses B. Goods and services? C. Land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurs? D. Rent, wages, interest, Businesses and profits? 2 1 4 Households 3 3 Labor 4 Resource Market Resource Market Labor 1 2 What flow are the following? 4 A. Goods/services? 3 B. Consumer expenditures? Businesses 1 C. Land, labor, capital and entrepreneurial ability? 2 D. Rent, wages, interest, and profits? Households Businesses Outhouse 3 4 Product Market $ COSTS NET TAXES FLOW TO GOVERNMENT FROM BUSINESSES $ INCOMES GOVERNMENT RESOURCEGOODS & SERVICES MARKETFLOW TO BUSINESSES RESOURCES INPUTS G/S HOUSEHOLDS BUSINESSES Taxes GOVERNMENT GOODS & SERVICES GOODS & SERVICES PRODUCT MARKET $ REVENUE $ CONSUMPTION $ COSTS GOODS & SERVICES FLOW TO HOUSEHOLDS FROM GOVERNMENT RESOURCES $ INCOMES NET TAXES FLOW RESOURCE TO GOVERNMENT MARKET FROM HOUSEHOLDS INPUTS G/S National Defense BUSINESSES GOVERNMENT GOODS & SERVICES Taxes HOUSEHOLDS GOODS & SERVICES PRODUCT MARKET $ REVENUE $ CONSUMPTION $ COSTS $ INCOMES RESOURCE MARKET RESOURCES L,L,C,E BUSINESSES INPUTS HOUSEHOLDS GOVERNMENT GOODS & SERVICES EXPENDITURES FLOW TO ACQUIRE RESOURCES $ REVENUE GOODS & RESOURCES SERVICES FLOW TO GOVERNMENT PRODUCT MARKET $ CONSUMPTION GOVERNMENT $ COSTS EXPENDITURES FLOW TO PRODUCT MARKET $ INCOMES GOODS & SERVICES FLOW TO RESOURCE GOVERNMENT MARKET RESOURCES INPUTS GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES GOODS & SERVICES HOUSEHOLDS B-2 Bombers GOODS & SERVICES PRODUCT MARKET $ REVENUE $ CONSUMPTION NS 56-59 Fuzzy Wuzzy 1. In the product market (householders/businesses) are the demanders and (householders/businesses) are the suppliers. 2. In the resource market (householders/businesses) are the demanders and (householders/businesses) are the suppliers. 3. In the resource market, (householders/businesses) sell resources to (householders/businesses). 4. In the product market, (householders/businesses) sell products [goods/services] to (householders/businesses). Note Sheet Questions 47-50 1 2 Labor Which Flow Represents? A. Consumer expenditures? B. Good/Services being sold? C. Land, labor, capital and entrepreneurial ability? 1 D. Rent, wages, interest, Businesses Households and profits? Businesses 4 3 2 Fuzzy Wuzzy 3 4 The End